Electro-gas-light signal



A. G. SHAVER.

ELECTRIC GAS LIGHT SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED IAN. II, I9Ia.

Patented Mar. 28, 1922.

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wftn/ess ARCHIBALD o. sHAvnn, or CHICAGO, immers.

ELECTRO-'GAS-LIGHT SllIGlllSlAL.`

specification of Leaersratent. Patented Mar, 23, 1922,

Application filed January 11, 1918. Serial No. 211,418.

To all whom t may cof/teem: i f

Be it known that I, ARCHIBALD Gr. Simi/nr., a citizen oit theUnited States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented a certain new anduseful Iminovement in Electro-GrasLight Signals, and declare the ollowingto be a full, clear, and exact description ot the same, such as will enable others skilled `in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reterence being had to the accompanying drawing/, which form a part of thisspecitication. y invention relates to the art of signalling and has for its object the creation of a simple and reliable system involving the use oi gas to produce illumination and of electromagnetic means for controlling the gas.

In one embodiment of my invention I einploy a plurality of gas lamps or burners and a controlsystem including electromagnetic valves for governing the loiv ot gas to the lamps or burners and therefore, in one oi its aspects, my invention may be said to have for its object to produce a simple electromagnetic valve system for controlling thc flow of a gaseous medium to a plurality ot devices to be supplied therewith.

@ne of the most important ields of use tor my invention is that of railway signalling and therefore, viewed in another ot its aspects, my invention maybe said to have .tor its object to produce a'simple and .reli able railway signal system in which the .signals will be gas lights and the control will be electromagnetic. i

`Viewed in a further f aspect my invention may be said to have. for its object to produce a system of'i'ailway signalling by means oi gas lights controlled electromagnetically through circuits which can readily be adaptedto many of the usual schemes ot block signal circuits.

The various features ot novelty whereby lmy invention `is `characterized will hereinafter be pointed .out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understandingot my invention yand of its objectsand advan tages, reierence may be had tothe following detailed description taken in connection .with the accompanying drawing, wherein:v

Figure l is adiagrammatici representation ot my inventionadapted to a common system of railway block signal circuits;

Fig. 2 is an `elevation of one of the gas light signals, together with theimmediate controlling circuits for the gas valves; aud

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of one of the electromagneticl gas valves.v

The system illustrated is one in which, whenever there is a train in a block, the first signal to the rear will indicate danger, the second will indicate caution, and the third will give a clear indicatiomby means of lights which are respectively red, yellow andgreen. Furthermore the system is one adapted to railroads having'two or more tracks and having only one track circuit to a block. For the sake of brevity I shall describe my invention in detail only in conr nection with the particular "system illustrated; but .1t willfoi course ybe understood that I do not Wish to limit my invention to n this particular use or adaptation.

Referring rst `to Figs. 2 and 3 or" the drawing, Gr, Y and R represent respectively green, yellow and red lenses in corresponding walls of three light-tight compartments of a lampv casing, l. Behind each lens is a burner, these being indicated respectively as 2, 3 vand 4. Adjacent to each of these burners is a pilot burner, -5,` adapted to provide a constantly burning pilot light which serves instantly to ignite gas issuing 'from the corresponding main burner. Gas is supplied from any suitable source such asa tank or reservoir, 6, adapted to contain `gas ata high pressure and deliverit at a lower pressure through'y a reducing valve',r 7 The `lpilot burners are supplied directly through a branch pipe, 8,1leading from the main delivery pipe, 9. The pipe 9 isconne'oted to an electromagnetic valve dev-ice, 10, which' supplies' the burner et through a pipe, 1l, and which also supplies a second electromagnetic valve device. '13, which Vsupplies `the burner, 3, through a pipe, 1&1-, and the burner, 2, through a pipe, l5.

The electromagnetic valve devices l() and 13 are alike in construction, the structural `details being rillustrated in Fig.` VEach valve device .comprises a closed casing, 16, having the interior divided into three com` pertinents by means of two partitions, l?

and 18.` In the central compartment yis a Adouble-acting valve, :19, co-operating with seats, 2() and 21, surrounding Aopeningsexi tending through the partitions 17 andV 18, respectively; the arrangement being such Lthat when the valve-is engaged with either seat it shuts off communication between the compartment at that end ofv the valve cas? Yagainst the upper seat when l between the burner 4 andthe ing vand the central compartment andopens communication between the central. compartment and the'other end compartment. The valve is carried upon a stem, 22, which is attached to or forms the core oifan elec'l trolnagnet, 23, located exteriorly oi the casing.- Vl'f the device is arranged in an upright position, as shown, the valve will seat itself by gravity against the lower seat Whenever thence to burner 4- while communicationk is shut oli? between pipe 9 and pipe l2, that is between the source'oil supply and valve de- Vvice-l3. Consequently the red lens'will be illuminated and the other two will be dark.

Then the electromagnetic element oi' the valve device 1Q is energized, communication source of supplyv is interrupted and the red lens will be left dark.; Either the yellow or the green lens Will now be illuminated, however, de-

` pending' on the condition of the valve device 13V; for if the electromagnetic element of the latter valve device v,is cle-energized gas'ivill flow fromv pipe 12 to pipe 14e and the yellow lens Will be4 illuminated and `it itis energized the greenlens will be illuminated. It will thus bek seen that oneor another of the three lenses Will always be illuminated, but no tivo can be illuminated at thesanie'tinic'. Furthermore, Wheneverthere is nol current iloving throughV the electromagnetic element ork either valve devicethe red lens will be illuminated; Y

If desired, there maybe; placed in the p ipe 9V a device, 24 lof any Well'known kind, Jfor causing the light behind the lenses to iiash.

For the purposeof permitting the apparatus just described to be utilized as part ot a block signal systemV as jwill Ahe hereinafter cx- ,plainech theelectromagneti'c element of the ',"valve device, 1Q, 1s placed 1n a circuit containing a source of current, 25,

and contacts, 26, of a controlling relay, H,W hile the electromagnetic element of the valve device 13' is (placedfin a circuitcontaining the source of current, contacts, 27,V of a relay D and contacts, 28,012' relay H. f With this arrangement` the. valve in device 13 can be raise-'d Y only when both relay D and relay ll are energized and must remain inits lower position When either ofthe two relays is de energized.' 1 1 n IIeference,being-neit7V had tol Fig. l, A, B

Y through contacts,

block light to be shown.

l'succession to,V V1s the purpose and C yrepresent three consecutive blocks in a railway track insulated from each other in the usual Way. A source of current, such as a battery, 30, is connected across the two railsv of each block. A track relay, T, is also connected across the rails oi' each block whereby, when there is no trainon a block the correspondin relay is energized; this being the normal.V condition. ln addition to the track relay each'bloclr has also oneroli 'the relays D and one ofthe relays ll to which referencev has heretofore been made.

rlhe energizing circuit Yl'or each of the relays l-l is through a suitable battery, 3l, and 32, on the corresponding track relay. The energizing circuit for each of the relays Dy is through one of the batteries, 3l, through contacts, 33, on the corresponding traclr relay and through the contacts 2,8 on relay H in the nent block ahead. Onek set oli these circuits may he traced follows: from one terminal of relay H through Wire 34, battery 3l, wire 35, wire 36, track relay contacts 32 and Wire 37 back:

to the other terminal or" relay H; and from one terminal of relay D at rear end of block A) through Wires, 38, 39 and 40, contacts 2S of relay H in block B, Wire l-l,lnittery 3l, Wire 35, Wire 36, contacts 33 of track relayzin A, and Wire 4:2 back to the other terminal or relay D.

Whenever a train entersv a block, block for examplethe track relay is tie-.energized and consequently the corresponding relays D and H. are (le-energized because their circuits are broken at the track relay; and the controlling valves for .theY signal for the block are .placed in such light Will be shown. As the 'train passes out of one bloei: .into the ner; -that is, from A to E, the relays T and Irl associated withV block :A are'energizech'but relay D remains cle-energized because it is under the control of relayl-l in block B. Therefore the signal in block A will be caused to show a yellow light. 1When the last car ofthe train passes into block C, so that relay H in block B be-v comes energized, the circuit through relay D in block A is completed and both of the Vvalves associated With the signal in the latter block will be raised so as to cause a green vIt will thus be seen' that I have produced a simple and novel arrangement by meansof which gas burners of differently colored lights may lie-turned on and 0E in automatic ofblock signals to convey. While I have illustrated and described with particularly only a: single preferred formv ofvmy invention, I do not desire to be limited tothe exact .structural details thus illustrated and described; but intendv to cover all forms and arrangements 'which come Within the termsemployed in the defiposition that a red Y give the information Which it V Cit nitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a railway signalsystem, a group of gas lights, electromagnetic valves for controlling the supply of gas to the lights, and a controlling system including a tra-ck circuit for actuating said valves to cause the lights to be lighted in automatic succession.

2. In a block signal system, groups of gas lights, and means for causing the lights of each group to be lighted in automatic succession from the time that group becomes the first group in rear of a train until its number in the series behind the train is equal to the number of lights in a group.

In a block signal system, groups ot' gas lights, valves controlling the low ot gas to said lights, and an electromagnetic controlling system for said valves arranged to cause the lights in each group to be lighted in automatic succession as a train passes such group and reaches predetermined points beyond the same.

fl. In a railway signal system, a plurality of groups of gas lights, interlocked electromagnetic valves associated with each group of lights to control the flow ot' gas thereto, and track circuits for controlling said valves.

5. In a railway signal system, a plurality oi groups oit gas lights, inter-locked valves associated with each group to control the iiow oi gas thereto, electromagnetic actuating means for each group of valves including local actuating circuits, and groups ot train-controlled relays for controlling said actuating circuits. f

G. In a railway signal system, a plurality 'ot groups of gas lights, interlockedl valves associated with each group to control the iiow of gas thereto, electromagnetic actuating means for each group ot valves including local actuating circuits, and groups of train-controlled relays for controlling said actuating circuits, certain of the relays being under the control of relays belonging to other groups.

T. In a railway light signaling apparatus, the combination ot' a signaling lantern having a gas burner and a pilot, a gas conduit lor conveying gas to the said burner, an electro-magnetically controlled valve in said conduit for controlling the flow of gas `to the burner normally in position to permit the flow of gas to said burner, a controllable circuit within which the valve magnet is included, a track circuit for controlling said controllable circuit, the operation oi' said track circuit depending upon track conditions, said controllable circuit being unaffected by gas movements, the construction and arrangement of the parts being such that magnet activity to close the gas supply ot' thesaid burner will be provided upon change in conditions of the controllable circuit.

S. In a railway light signaling apparatus, the combination of a signaling lantern having a gas burner and a pilot, a gas conduit leading to the said burner for supplying gas thereto, a magnetically controlled valve in said conduit for controlling the ow of gas to the burner and normally operating to permit the flow of gas thereto, a circuit within which the valve magnet is included, and means whereby said circuit isV controlled by train movements over tracks with which the apparatus is associated.

9. Ina railway light signaling apparatus, the combination of a signaling lantern, comprising a plurality of gas burners and pilots, a gas conduit .leading to said gas burners for supplying gas thereto, a plurality of electro-magnetically controlled valves in said conduit for controlling the flow of gas to the said burners, each of said valvesvcontrolling the iiow of gas to-two burners, the

first of said valves normally being in posi- 'f tion to permit the iiow of gas to the iirst burner and to close the passageway for the gas to the next succeeding burner, and the second ,valve being inlike position, a circuit for controlling the first named valve to close the passageway to the first named burner and to open the passageway to the second named burner, a circuit for controlling the second named valve to close the passageway leading to the second burner and to open the passagewayy leading to a third burner, and means controllable by train movements upon a track associated with said apparatus for controlling the said two circuits.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification.

ARCHIBALD G. SHAVER. 

